‘Streetball’: Driving the growth of basketball in India via the 3v3 format

Basketball, despite its worldwide fascination and glamour, has not been able to make a mark in the Indian sporting scene, as it lives under the shadow of sports like cricket. For some up-and-coming hoopers in the country, dreams took flight at the Elante Mall in Chandigarh on May 12, as team Pistol Group from Ludhiana lifted the Red Bull Half Court National Finals 2024 trophy after beating Diphu Nihang Red in the final, securing a spot in the world finals in October in New York City. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Transformation of basketball leagues in India In 2017, the UBA Pro Basketball League tried to establish itself as India’s first professional basketball tournament, but was shut down after the Basketball Federation of India refused to invite UBA players to national and international tournaments due to its private ownership. However, things look more promising after BFI president Aadhav Arjuna announced the introduction of the National Star Basketball League as the top-tier basketball competition in India last week. But they invested in the shorter format and their results have been amazing, managing to win the gold medal in the 2017 and 2023 editions of the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup.” According to Chandigarh Basketball Association’s technical commission chairman Mandeep Thour, the lack of infrastructure compared to the Western nations is a major cause of concern in India.